The anti-IL-17 class is not only highly effective in treating psoriasis, but also other comorbidities associated with type 2 inflammation. Data presented by Dr. Kim Papp at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology in 2022 shows that brodalumab (Siliq), in particular, can effectively treat psoriasis even among patients for whom other IL-23- and IL-17-targeting biologics don’t work or have lost effectiveness over time. However, Brodalumab’s black box warning can be a prescribing barrier, especially among new-to-practice physicians. In this roundtable discussion, Dr Anatoli Freiman and ..read more

Knowledge of the pathophysiology of immune-mediated diseases continues to advance. In the past decade there has been a rapid evolution of immune-targeted therapies that have grown in precision. Overlapping immune abnormalities results in overlapping diseases, co-morbidities, and treatments. Dermatologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, respirologists, allergists, and oncologists now share and co-manage more patients who often have more complex issues. Understanding how our therapies impact these immunologically related and often comorbid conditions is necessary to provide comprehensive ..read more

In an era of exciting new drug therapies and cutting-edge laser devices, it is easy to forget about simpler, “low-tech” treatments that have stood the test of time but are not being championed by industry. One such example is a superficial chemical peel, which produces a controlled injury that is limited to the epidermis. This is a simple and inexpensive procedure that can complement the treatments provided by dermatologists for acne, melasma or postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.  ..read more

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition primarily affecting the central face, including the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and eyes. The prevalence of rosacea is higher in middle-aged individuals and those with light skin phototypes (Fitzpatrick skin types I-II). Ocular symptoms occur in up to 58% to 72% of those with rosacea. Clinical manifestations of ocular rosacea include chronic blepharitis; conjunctivitis; meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD); corneal vascularization; infiltration; and scarring. Patients may report symptoms of ocular dryness, burning and s ..read more

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder that affects approximately 0.5–2% of the world’s population. It is characterized by the loss of pigment-producing melanocytes, resulting in depigmented patches on the skin. Vitiligo occurs equally in all genders and across the skin colour spectrum. Although vitiligo can start at any age, 50% of affected individuals experience the onset of the condition before the age of 20. Recent developments in vitiligo research have advanced the understanding of its pathophysiology, epidemiology, and psychosocial impact on patients. While traditional ..read more

The Inflammatory Skin Disease Summit (ISDS) 2023 conference was packed with many scientific presentations on current and future innovations in dermatology. At the forefront were cytokine profiling, targeting, and monitoring. Although much of this work is conducted in study settings, it will inevitably be incorporated into clinical practice in the coming years ..read more

Patients with cutaneous findings of systemic autoimmune rheumatological disease often require a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management. In general, the first signs of systemic rheumatological diseases may be skin manifestations, which prompt those affected to visit the dermatology clinic. The basis and presentations of conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) are complex, and involve genetic and environmental influences that are embedded in broad and overlapping factors of the socioecological model. This review recognizes that North Ame ..read more

Field cancerization (FC) is defined at the cellular level as the growth of a mutant clone that creates a field of cells predisposed to subsequent tumour growth. Cutaneous FC is a phenomenon that occurs in areas of the skin exposed to chronic ultraviolet radiation (UVR), including the face, balding scalp, forearms, and dorsal hands. This then leads to fields of clonal proliferations of p53-mutated keratinocytes and is characterized by multifocal actinic keratoses (AK), squamous cell carcinomas in situ (SCCis), and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (CSCC).Risk factors for FC are similar to thos ..read more

Canada is home to approximately 1 million people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Improving access to care and health for LGBT persons is a public health focus. Dermatology has a longstanding history of providing care to the LGBT community. For instance, in the 1980s, dermatologists diagnosed opportunistic infections and Kaposi sarcoma in young gay men; this contributed to the recognition of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The role of dermatologists in caring for the LGBT population has continued to grow over time ..read more

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic debilitating inflammatory skin disease characterized by the formation of recurrent nodules, abscesses, sinus tracts, fistulas and scarring within apocrine gland‑bearing areas. HS affects up to 3.8% of the Canadian population with a higher prevalence among females. The condition is thought to be secondary to occlusion of the pilosebaceous unit and subsequent inflammation ..read more